U.S. patent number 10,363,842 [Application Number 15/261,234] was granted by the patent office on 2019-07-30 for vehicle anchor system for juvenile seat base.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert S. Anderson, David A. Lehman, Mei-Hui Lin.
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United States Patent |
10,363,842 |
Anderson , et al. |
July 30, 2019 |
Vehicle anchor system for juvenile seat base
Abstract
A child restraint includes a seat-support frame adapted to set
on a passenger seat and retained on the passenger seat using an
anchor belt. A juvenile seat included in the child restraint is
configured to be mounted in a stationary position on the
seat-support frame. The anchor belt can be a lap belt associated
with the passenger seat.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Robert S. (Narvon,
PA), Lehman; David A. (Lancaster, PA), Lin; Mei-Hui
(Nashville, IN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. |
Foxboro |
MA |
US |
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Assignee: |
Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
(Foxboro, MA)
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Family
ID: |
58236643 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/261,234 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170072819 A1 |
Mar 16, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62217227 |
Sep 11, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/286 (20130101); B60N 2/2806 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/28 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;297/256.16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1077152 |
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Feb 2001 |
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EP |
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1493616 |
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Jan 2005 |
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EP |
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Primary Examiner: Barfield; Anthony D
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Parent Case Text
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/217,227, filed Sep. 11, 2015,
which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A child restraint comprising a juvenile-seat base including a
seat-support frame that supports a juvenile seat and is adapted to
lie in an installed position on a seat bottom and seat back of a
passenger seat provided with a seat bight formed at a junction
between the seat bottom and seat back, the juvenile-seat base also
including a restorative frame tether mounted to the seat-support
frame for pivotable movement about a high-elevation horizontal
frame-pivot axis that is arranged to intercept and extend through a
portion of the juvenile seat that is mounted on the seat-support
frame and the restorative frame tether is arranged to extend
downwardly from the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis
toward the seat bottom of the passenger seat when the seat-support
frame lies in the installed position on the passenger seat, and
wherein the restorative frame tether is configured to provide means
for mating with an underside of a passenger-seat lap belt
associated with the passenger seat to establish an actual belt path
of the passenger-seat lap belt while the passenger-seat belt
remains in a relatively lower low-elevation position in close
proximity to the seat bight and below and in spaced-apart relation
to the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis and for yieldably
returning the seat-support frame automatically to the installed
position on the seat bottom and seat back of the passenger seat
owing to pivotable movement of the restorative frame tether about
the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis after movement of
the seat-support frame from the installed position to a temporary
displaced position on the passenger seat during exposure of the
passenger seat to external forces.
2. A child restraint comprising a juvenile-seat base including a
seat-support frame that is adapted to support a juvenile seat and
to lie in an installed position on a seat bottom and seat back of a
passenger seat provided with a seat bight formed at a junction
between the seat bottom and seat back, the juvenile-seat base also
including a restorative frame tether mounted to the seat-support
frame for pivotable movement about a high-elevation horizontal
frame-pivot axis and arranged to extend downwardly from the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis toward the seat bottom
of the passenger seat when the seat-support frame lies in the
installed position on the passenger seat, and wherein the
restorative frame tether is configured to provide means for mating
with an underside of a passenger-seat lap belt associated with the
passenger seat to establish an actual belt path of the
passenger-seat lap belt while the passenger-seat belt remains in a
relatively lower low-elevation position in close proximity to the
seat bight and below and in spaced-apart relation to the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis and for yieldably
returning the seat-support frame automatically to the installed
position on the seat bottom and seat back of the passenger seat
owing to pivotable movement of the restorative frame tether about
the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis after movement of
the seat-support frame from the installed position to a temporary
displaced position on the passenger seat during exposure of the
passenger seat to external forces, wherein the restorative frame
tether includes a belt mount adapted to engage a portion of the
underside of the passenger-seat lap belt, a first frame-tether
linkage having a lower end pivotably coupled to a first end of the
belt mount and an opposite upper end pivotably coupled to a first
side of the seat-support frame at a first elevated pivot point that
is located on the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis, and a
second frame-tether linkage having a lower end pivotably coupled to
an opposite second end of the belt mount and an opposite upper end
pivotably coupled to an opposite second side of the seat-support
frame at a second elevated pivot point that is located on the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis and arranged to lie in
spaced-apart relation to the first elevated pivot point to define a
virtual belt path therebetween and along the high-elevation
horizontal frame-pivot axis.
3. The child restraint of claim 2, further comprising a juvenile
seat formed to include a child-receiving space and coupled to the
seat-support frame to lie in a stationary position and wherein an
outer portion of the juvenile seat extends into a seat-receiving
cavity formed in the seat support frame to position the outer
portion above the belt mount, between the first and second
frame-tether linkages, and below the first and second elevated
pivot points.
4. The child restraint of claim 2, wherein the first-side
frame-tether linkage includes a first rod-support plate associated
with the first side of the seat-support frame, a first-plate pivot
axle arranged to mate with the first side of the seat-support frame
and support the rod-support plate for pivotable movement about the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis, and at least one
spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rod arranged to extend
between and mate with each of the first end of the belt mount and
the first rod-support plate.
5. The child restraint of claim 4, wherein the second-side
frame-tether linkage includes a second rod-support plate associated
with the second side of the seat-support frame, a second-plate
pivot axle arranged to mate with the second side of the
seat-support frame and support the rod-support plate for pivotable
movement about the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis, and
at least one spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rod arranged to
extend between and mate with each of the second end of the belt
mount and the second rod-support plate.
6. The child restraint of claim 2, wherein the belt mount includes
a convex outwardly facing topside belt-support surface adapted to
engage a portion of the underside of the passenger-seat lap belt
normally to hold the belt mount against the passenger seat to
establish the installed position of the seat-support frame on the
passenger seat and wherein each of the spring-loaded extensible
frame-tether rods is lengthened temporarily to load a spring
included therein during limited forward movement of the
seat-support frame on the seat bottom of the passenger seat and
away from the seat back and the seat bight following exposure of
the passenger seat to an external impact and then shortened
following unloading of the spring included in each of the
spring-loaded extensible frame-support rods to apply a downward
force to the seat-support frame to cause the seat-support frame to
be pivoted about the horizontal frame-pivot axis and moved
downwardly toward the passenger seat from the temporary displaced
position to the installed position.
7. The child restraint of claim 2, wherein the first-side and
second-side spring-biased extensible frame-tether rods cooperate to
provide means for yieldably drawing the seat-support frame
downwardly toward the belt mount and also toward the seat bottom,
seat back, and seat bight when the seat-support frame is retained
in the installed position.
8. The child restraint of claim 2, further comprising a juvenile
seat coupled to the seat-support frame and wherein the first-side
and second-side spring-biased extensible frame-tether rods
cooperate to provide a space therebetween for receiving a portion
of the juvenile seat and means for transferring a downward force
exerted on the belt mount by a passenger-seat lap belt mated with
an outwardly facing topside belt-support surface of the belt mount
to the seat-support frame at the elevated pivot points so as to
establish an elevated virtual belt path that lies above the actual
belt path and extends in part, along the horizontal frame-pivot
axis between the first and second pivot points so that more room is
provided between the first and second sides of the seat-support
frame to allow for a lowest possible position of the juvenile seat
in the seat-support frame and the seat-support frame can be
retained in a low position on the passenger seat to keep the center
of gravity of the child restraint close to the seat bottom of the
passenger seat.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to juvenile vehicle seats, and
particularly to a base for use with juvenile vehicle seats. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system for
anchoring the base in a fixed position on a passenger seat in a
vehicle.
Juvenile vehicle seats are used to transport young children in
automobiles or other vehicles. These seats are often adapted to set
on a juvenile-seat base which rests on a passenger seat in a
vehicle. Seats for infants are adapted to face in a rearward
direction toward a seat back of the passenger seat. Seats for older
children are adapted to face in a forward direction away from the
seat back of the passenger seat. Convertible seats are adapted to
be used in either rearwardly facing or forwardly facing directions.
Bases for use with juvenile seats may be adapted to be used in the
rearwardly facing direction only, the forwardly facing direction
only, or in both the rearwardly and forwardly facing
directions.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the present disclosure, a child restraint
includes a seat-support frame adapted to set on a passenger seat of
a vehicle and a juvenile seat mounted on the seat-support frame. In
illustrative embodiments, a restorative frame tether is adapted to
engage a vehicle lap belt in a low region near the bight of the
passenger seat that is provided at the junction between a seat
bottom and a seat back of the passenger seat. The restorative frame
tether is also mounted to the seat-support frame for pivotable
movement about a relatively high horizontal frame-pivot axis that
is elevated above the vehicle lap belt so that the seat-support
frame will pivot about the horizontal frame-pivot axis and be moved
downwardly into a cushion included in the seat bottom during
exposure of a vehicle carrying the passenger seat and the child
restraint to an external impact.
In illustrative embodiments, the restorative frame tether includes
a belt mount located in or near the seat bight of the passenger
seat. The vehicle lap belt engages a convex outwardly facing
topside belt-support surface of the belt mount to establish a low
elevation ACTUAL BELT PATH that extends laterally across the seat
bottom in or near to the seat bight of the passenger seat. The
restorative frame tether also includes at least one frame-tether
linkage that is coupled at a lower end thereof to the belt mount
and at an upper end thereof to the seat-support frame at a pivot
point that is aligned with the horizontal frame-pivot axis.
In illustrative embodiments, each frame-tether linkage of the
restorative frame tether comprises at least one spring-biased
extensible rod. This rod expands and contracts in length during
installation of the child restraint on the passenger seat to
simplify attachment of the vehicle lap belt to the belt mount. Each
rod is spring biased towards full extension with a plurality of
lock positions that prevent extension without actuation of a
release button. Such that, once the vehicle lap belt has been
installed downward force on the seat-support frame compresses the
vehicle seat cushion and promotes compression of the spring biased
extensible rod thereby tensioning the seat-support frame relative
to the vehicle seat.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative
embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the
disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying
figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a child restraint comprising a
juvenile seat (shown diagrammatically) and a juvenile-seat base
including a seat-support frame that is configured to support the
juvenile seat and a restorative frame tether that is coupled to the
seat-support frame for pivotable movement about an elevated
horizontal frame-pivot axis and is adapted to mate with a
relatively low vehicle lap belt when the juvenile-seat base is
mounted on a passenger seat in a vehicle and showing that the
seat-support frame is arranged to rest on a seat bottom of a
passenger seat of a vehicle at the start of a frame installation
process before, as suggested in FIG. 4, an anchor belt such as a
vehicle lap belt is coupled to a laterally extending belt mount
included in the restorative frame tether to anchor the seat-support
frame of the juvenile-seat base in a substantially stationary
INSTALLED position on the passenger seat as shown in FIG. 5 and
suggesting that a VIRTUAL BELT PATH that is elevated above the belt
mount will be established by the restorative frame tether once the
vehicle lap belt is coupled to the laterally extending belt mount
as suggested in FIGS. 7, 11, and 12;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a portion of the
juvenile-seat base of FIG. 1 taken from another point of view
showing the laterally extending belt mount included in the
restorative frame tether of the juvenile-seat base before the
vehicle lap belt is mated with the belt mount that is positioned to
lie near a seat bight formed at a junction provided between the
seat bottom and back of the passenger seat;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of a portion of the
juvenile-seat base of FIG. 1 showing a convex, curved, outwardly
facing topside belt-support surface of the laterally extending belt
mount before a vehicle lap belt is passed along an ACTUAL BELT PATH
that extends over the belt mount and under the seat-support frame
as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5 to restrain the belt mount in an
installed position on the passenger seat in close proximity to a
junction (i.e., seat bight) provided between the seat bottom and
back of the passenger seat;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic assembly view of components included in
the restorative frame tether before they are coupled to laterally
spaced-apart first and second side pivot anchor bars included in
the seat-support frame and showing that the restorative frame
tether comprises: (1) a belt mount, (2) left-side frame-tether
linkage including a pivotable first D-shaped rod-support plate
associated with the first side pivot anchor bar, a companion
first-plate pivot axle for mating with the first side pivot anchor
bar and supporting the first D-shaped rod-support plate for
pivotable movement about the horizontal frame-pivot axis, and a
pair of left-side spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods
arranged to extend between and mate with each of the belt mount and
the pivotable first D-shaped rod-support plate, and (3) a
right-side frame-tether linkage including a pivotable second
D-shaped rod-support plate associated with the second side pivot
anchor bar, a companion second-plate pivot axle for mating with the
second side pivot anchor bar and supporting the pivotable second
D-shaped rod-support plate for pivotable movement about the
horizontal frame-pivot axis, and a pair of right-side spring-loaded
extensible frame-tether rods arranged to extend between and mate
with each of the belt mount and the pivotable second D-shaped
rod-support plate and suggesting that the vehicle lap belt will be
passed along an ACTUAL BELT PATH over a convex outwardly facing
topside belt-support surface of the belt mount to engage that
belt-support surface and hold the belt mount of the restorative
frame tether in closely confronting relation to the seat bight of
the passenger seat so that the seat-support frame is held normally
in an INSTALLED position on a passenger seat by the spring-loaded
extensible frame-tether rods as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5-10
and suggesting that the restorative frame tether is configured and
arranged to establish a VIRTUAL BELT PATH that extends in part
along the horizontal frame-pivot axis and lies above the ACTUAL
BELT PATH;
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view showing engagement of a vehicle
lap belt on the convex outwardly facing topside belt-support
surface of the belt mount to hold the belt mount of the restorative
frame tether normally against the passenger seat while the
left-side and right-side spring-biased extensible frame-tether rods
cooperate to draw the seat-support frame toward the belt mount and
therefore toward seat bottom, seat back, and seat bight of the
passenger seat to establish an INSTALLED position of the
seat-support frame in the passenger seat;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an earlier first stage
of installation before a bight portion of the seat-support frame is
drawn toward a seat bight formed at the junction between the seat
bottom and back of the passenger seat in the vehicle;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the seat-support frame
held by the vehicle lap belt in an INSTALLED position on the
passenger seat after the bight portion of the seat-support frame
has been drawn into the seat bight by the spring-biased extensible
frame-tether rods of the restorative frame tether and illustrating
a VIRTUAL BELT PATH pivot point associated with the first-plate
pivot axle of the pivotable first D-shaped rod-support plate and a
VIRTUAL BELT PATH pivot axis (shown in phantom) that is elevated
above and in spaced-apart relation to the relatively lower vehicle
lap belt and is co-extensive with the horizontal frame-pivot axis
that is arranged to extend through the plate pivot axles of the
pivotable first and second D-shaped rod-support plates;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of the
left side of the juvenile-seat base showing that the belt mount is
drawn into the seat bight formed at the junction between the seat
bottom and seat back by the vehicle lap belt and that the bight
portion of the seat-support frame is drawn toward the seat bight by
the restorative frame tether when the seat-support frame occupies
the INSTALLED position;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevation view of the belt mount of
FIGS. 5-8 showing that the vehicle lap belt extends on the belt
mount along a curved ACTUAL BELT PATH and through a left-side
channel provided between the pair of left-side spring-loaded
extensible frame-tether rods included in the left-side mount
linkage of the restorative frame tether;
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the juvenile-seat base of
FIGS. 5-9 showing that the vehicle lap belt also extends on the
belt mount through a right-side channel provided between the pair
of right-side spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods included
in the right-side mount linkage of the restorative frame
tether;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a forwardly displaced
juvenile-seat base during exposure of the vehicle in which the
juvenile-seat base is transported to an external impact and showing
temporary lengthening of each of the right-side spring-biased
extensible frame-tether rods included in the restorative frame
tether during limited forward movement of the seat-support frame of
the juvenile-seat base on the seat bottom of the passenger seat and
away from the seat back and the seat bight from the INSTALLED
position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7-10 to a temporarily DISPLACED
position following that external impact to the vehicle; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 11 showing rotation
(pivoting) of the seat-support frame about the relatively high
horizontal frame-pivot axis (VIRTUAL BELT PATH) during exposure of
a vehicle carrying the child restraint to an external impact to
drive the seat support frame downwardly into the underlying seat
bottom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A juvenile-seat base 10 in accordance with the present disclosure
cooperates with a juvenile seat 12 to form a child restraint 13 as
suggested in FIG. 1. In illustrative embodiments, juvenile-seat
base 10 comprises a seat-support frame 14 and a restorative frame
tether 16 that is coupled to seat-support frame 14 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. In illustrative embodiments, an anchor belt such as
a vehicle lap belt 18 is located under the juvenile seat 12 and is
arranged to extend along an ACTUAL BELT PATH to retain
juvenile-seat base 10 in an INSTALLED position on a passenger seat
20 as suggested in FIG. 5.
A restorative frame tether 16 in accordance with the present
disclosure is configured to mate with vehicle or passenger-seat lap
belt 10 in a region under juvenile seat 12 to allow vehicle lap
belt 18 to remain in a relatively low position in close proximity
to a seat bight 23 formed at a junction between a seat bottom 21
and a seat back 22 of passenger seat 20 while that vehicle lap belt
18 functions to retain juvenile-seat base 10 in the installed
position on passenger seat 20 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and
7. During exposure of a vehicle carrying passenger seat 20 to an
external impact, seat-support frame 14 of juvenile-seat base 10 may
be displaced on passenger seat 20 from the INSTALLED position shown
in FIGS. 5 and 7-10 to assume a different temporary DISPLACED
position as shown, for example, in FIG. 11. Restorative frame
tether 16 functions as disclosed herein automatically to return
(i.e. restore) seat-support frame 14 to the installed position on
passenger seat 20 so that seat-support frame 14 is allowed to
regain its former state or condition in the INSTALLED position on
passenger seat 20.
Restorative frame tether 16 is also configured to extend upwardly
and outwardly from vehicle lap belt 18 and mate with seat-support
frame 14 at elevated pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 as suggested in
FIG. 7 to establish an elevated VIRTUAL BELT PATH, a portion of
which is substantially co-extensive with a horizontal frame-pivot
axis 14A that extends through elevated pivot points P.sub.1,
P.sub.2. Elevated pivot point P.sub.1 is located on a left side 14L
of seat-support frame 14 to lie in laterally spaced-apart relation
to the elevated pivot point P.sub.2 that is located on an opposite
right side 14R of seat-support frame 14 to provide a seat-receiving
space 12S therebetween that is sized to receive a portion of
juvenile seat 12 therebetween when juvenile seat 12 is mounted on
seat-support frame 14 of juvenile-seat 12 as suggested in FIG.
7.
In Illustrative embodiments, restorative frame tether 16 is
configured to establish a VIRTUAL BELT PATH that is elevated above
vehicle lap belt 18 and that is arranged to pass through a portion
of juvenile seat 12 mounted on juvenile-seat base 10 as suggested
diagrammatically in FIG. 6. Thus, the vehicle lap belt 18 can
extend laterally across seat bottom 21 of passenger seat 20 along
an ACTUAL BELT PATH that is under juvenile seat 12 and juvenile
seat 12 can be retained in a low position relative to seat-support
frame 14 of juvenile-seat base 10 near seat bottom 21 of passenger
seat 20 to maintain a low center of gravity (CG) of child restraint
13 while the restorative frame tether 16 extends upwardly and
outwardly along left and right exterior side walls of juvenile seat
12 to mate with seat-support frame 14 at laterally spaced-apart
pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 to establish an elevated VIRTUAL BELT
PATH that is above the ACTUAL BELT PATH followed by vehicle lap
belt 18. As suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5, a portion of the VIRTUAL
BELT PATH is arranged to lie between laterally spaced-apart pivot
points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 in co-extensive relation with horizontal
frame-pivot axis 14A.
Seat-frame support 14 includes a foundation 140 adapted to engage
seat bottom 21 and seat back 22 of passenger seat 20, a first side
pivot anchor bar 141 coupled to a left side 140L of foundation 140,
and a second side pivot anchor bar 142 coupled to a right side 140R
of foundation as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 5, and 7. Bars
141, 142 are arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to
one another along a negatively sloping inclined reference plane as
suggested in FIG. 6 in the illustrated embodiment. A lower end of
each bar 141, 142 is coupled to a bottom-engaging portion 140A of
foundation 140. An opposite upper end of each bar 141, 142 is
coupled to a back-engaging portion 140B of foundation 140. When
foundation 140 of seat-support frame 14 is placed on a passenger
seat 20 of a vehicle, bottom-engaging portion 140A rests on seat
bottom 21 and back-engaging portion 140B rests against seat back 22
as suggested in FIGS. 1, 5, and 7.
Restorative frame tether 16 is configured to tether seat-support
frame 14 to vehicle lap belt 18 when juvenile-seat base 10 of child
restraint 13 is mounted on passenger seat 20 of a vehicle as
suggested in FIGS. 5 and 7. Restorative frame tether 16 is
configured to cause seat-support frame 14 to regain the INSTALLED
position on passenger seat 20 should seat-support frame 14 be moved
temporarily to a DISPLACED position on passenger seat 20 following
exposure of the vehicle carrying passenger seat 20 to an external
impact as suggested in FIGS. 11 and 12. Restorative frame tether 16
is configured to establish an elevated VIRTUAL BELT PATH that
extends, in part, along horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A and above
an ACTUAL BELT PATH followed by vehicle lap belt 18 as suggested in
FIG. 7. Juvenile seat 12 is coupled to seat-support frame 14 using
any suitable means to lie as low as possible relative to
seat-support frame 14 to establish a low center of gravity of child
restraint 13. In illustrative embodiments, the VIRTUAL BELT PATH is
arranged to intercept and extend through a portion of the juvenile
seat 12 that is mounted on the seat-support frame 14 owing to the
configuration of restorative frame tether 16 as suggested
diagrammatically in FIG. 6.
Restorative frame tether 16 includes a left-side frame-tether
linkage 161 coupled to inclined first side pivot anchor bar 141 at
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A and a right-side frame-tether
linkage 162 coupled to inclined second side pivot anchor bar 142 of
foundation 140 at horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A as suggested in
FIGS. 1-4. Restorative frame tether 16 also includes a belt mount
163 coupled to a lower portion of each of linkages 161, 162 as
suggested in FIGS. 1-4 to lie below and in spaced-apart relation to
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A.
Left-side frame-tether linkage 161 includes a pivotable first
D-shaped rod-support plate 170 associated with first side pivot
anchor bar 141, a companion first-plate pivot axle 171 for mating
with first side pivot anchor bar 141 and supporting first D-shaped
rod-support plate 170 for pivotable movement about horizontal
frame-pivot axis 14A, and a pair of left-side spring-loaded
extensible frame-tether rods 172, 173 arranged to extend between
and mate with each of belt mount 163 and the pivotable first
D-shaped rod-support plate 170. Although rod-support plate 170 is
D-shaped in the illustrated embodiment, it is within the scope of
the present disclosure to use any suitable shape.
Right-side frame-tether linkage 161 includes a pivotable second
D-shaped rod-support plate 180 associated with second side pivot
anchor bar 141, a companion second-plate pivot axle 181 for mating
with second side pivot anchor bar 141 and supporting second
D-shaped rod-support plate 180 for pivotable movement about
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A, and a pair of right-side
spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods 182, 183 arranged to
extend between and mate with each of belt mount 163 and the
pivotable second D-shaped rod-support plate 180. Although
rod-support plate 180 is D-shaped in the illustrated embodiment, it
is within the scope of the present disclosure to use any suitable
shape.
Each extensible frame-tether rod 172, 173, 182, 183 is spring
biased towards full extension with a plurality of lock positions
that prevent extension without actuation of a release button. Such
that, once the vehicle lap belt 18 has been installed downward
force on the seat-support frame 14 compresses the vehicle seat
cushion and promotes compression of the spring-biased extensible
rods 172, 173, 182, 183 thereby tensioning the seat-support frame
14 relative to the vehicle seat 20
An early first stage of installation before a bight portion 14B of
seat-support frame 14 is drawn into a seat bight 24 formed at the
junction between seat bottom 21 and seat back 22 of passenger seat
20 in the vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 6. When vehicle lap belt
18 is tightened as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 7, seat-support frame
14 is moved to assume an INSTALLED POSITION on passenger seat
20.
A top perspective view is provided in FIG. 5 to show engagement of
vehicle lap belt 18 on the convex outwardly facing topside
belt-support surface 163T of belt mount 163. Such engagement is
sufficient to hold belt mount 143 of restorative frame tether 16
normally against passenger seat 20 to establish an INSTALLED
POSITION on passenger seat 20 while the left-side and right-side
spring-biased extensible frame-tether rods 172, 173, 182, and 183
cooperate to draw seat-support frame 14 toward belt mount 163 and
therefore toward seat bottom 21, seat back 22, and seat bight 24 of
passenger seat 20.
Seat-support frame 14 is held by vehicle lap belt 18 in an
INSTALLED POSITION on passenger seat 20 after bight portion 14B of
seat-support frame 14 has been drawn into seat bight 24 by the
spring-biased extensible frame-tether rods 172, 173, 182, and 183
as shown in FIG. 7. A VIRTUAL BELT PATH pivot point P.sub.1
associated with the first-plate pivot axle 171 of the pivotable
first D-shaped rod-support plate 170 and a VIRTUAL BELT PATH pivot
axis (shown in phantom) that is elevated above and in spaced-apart
relation to the relatively lower vehicle lap belt 18 and is
co-extensive with the horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A that is
arranged to extend through the plate pivot axles 171, 181 of the
pivotable first and second D-shaped rod-support plates 170, 180 is
also shown in FIG. 7.
Vehicle lap belt 18 extends along a curved path and through a
left-side channel 18L provided between the pair of left-side
spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods 172, 173 included in the
left-side frame-tether linkage 161 of the restorative frame tether
16 as shown in FIG. 9. Vehicle lap belt 18 also passes through a
right-side channel 18R provided between the pair of right-side
spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods 182, 183 included in the
right-side frame-tether linkage 162 of the restorative frame tether
16 as shown in FIG. 10.
A perspective view of a forwardly displaced juvenile-seat base 10
during exposure of the vehicle in which juvenile-seat base 10 is
transported to an external impact is shown in FIG. 11. Temporary
lengthening of each of the right-side spring-biased extensible
frame-tether rods 182, 183 included in the restorative frame tether
16 occurs as shown in FIG. 11 during limited forward movement of
seat-support frame 14 of juvenile-seat base 10 on seat bottom 21 of
passenger seat 20 and away from seat back 21 and seat bight 24
following that external impact to the vehicle.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a child restraint 13 is
provided with a combination of elements including a restorative
frame tether 16 that functions to establish a VIRTUAL BELT PATH
that is elevated above a vehicle lap belt 18 that is used to hold
child restraint 13 on a passenger seat 20 in a vehicle and that
extends or otherwise passes through the space 12S that is occupied
by a juvenile seat 12 included in child restraint 13 and mounted on
seat-support frame 14. Vehicle lap belt 18 cannot pass through that
space 12S because the space 12S is occupied by juvenile seat 12.
Instead, vehicle lap belt 18 passes under juvenile seat 12 and
engages a belt mount 163 included in restorative tether 16 and
exerts a downward force F.sub.D on belt mount 163, which force
F.sub.D is transferred to the seat-support frame 14 as force
F.sub.T at the elevated pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 on
seat-support frame 14 by the rest of the restorative frame tether
16 so as to establish the elevated VIRTUAL BELT PATH that extends,
in part, along a horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A between pivot
points P.sub.1, P.sub.2.
In accordance with the present disclosure, juvenile seat 12 and
seat-support frame 14 can be retained in a very low position on
vehicle seat 20 to keep the center of gravity of child restraint 13
as low as possible. A system of linkages 161, 162, 163 is included
in restorative frame tether 16 to allow use of a low-elevation
ACTUAL BELT PATH for vehicle lap belt 18 that creates the same belt
path as if the vehicle lap belt 18 had instead wrapped over the top
of first and second side pivot anchor bars 141, 142 at about pivot
points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 to extend along a relatively high belt path
above seat bottom 21. Any pivoting action of seat-support frame 14
(and juvenile seat 12) of the type that may occur in response to
exposure of the vehicle carrying child restraint 13 to an external
impact will take place along a horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A and
an elevated VIRTUAL BELT PATH that extends along horizontal
frame-pivot axis 14A between pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2.
Restorative frame tether 16 cooperates with seat-support frame 14
in accordance with the present disclosure to establish a high
VIRTUAL BELT PATH using a vehicle lap belt 18 that extends along a
low ACTUAL BELT PATH. The low-elevation ACTUAL BELT PATH followed
by vehicle lap belt 18 provides more access and room in space 12S
inside seat-support frame 14 to allow for the lowest possible
position of juvenile seat 12 in seat-support frame 14. This lowers
the center of gravity of child restraint 13 in a desirable way.
During exposure of a vehicle carrying child restraint 13,
seat-support frame 14 is free to rotate or pivot about the
relatively high horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A (VIRTUAL BELT PATH)
and thereby move relative to the underlying seat bottom 21 and seat
back 22 while belt mount 163 is retained by vehicle lap belt 18 in
a substantially stationary position in the bight 23 of the seat 20
as suggested in FIGS. 11 and 12. This relative motion results in
the seat-support frame 14 being driven downwardly into the
underlying seat bottom 21 to stabilize the child restraint 13 on
the vehicle seat 20.
The VIRTUAL BELT PATH established by restorative frame tether 16 in
cooperation with seat-support frame 14 illustratively is about
eight inches from seat bight 23 on a 45 degree angle relative to
the vehicle seating surface. Such a surface is defined by a surface
on the child restraint 13 that the vehicle lap belt 18 passes over
farthest from the vehicle seat bight 23. In accordance with the
present disclosure, vehicle lap belt 18 is directed back toward the
seat bight 23 so that it does not interfere with the portion of
juvenile seat 12 that is placed between the ACTUAL BELT PATH and
the elevated VIRTUAL BELT PATH.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a VIRTUAL BELT PATH is
created by a linkage system 161, 162, 163 of restorative frame
tether 16 in cooperation with seat-support frame 14 from a
relatively lower ACTUAL BELT PATH to a higher point along
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A such that rotation (pivoting) of
seat-support frame 14 about axis 14A and relative to vehicle seat
20 is closer to the center of gravity of child restraint 13 which
will minimize movement of child restraint 13 on vehicle seat 20
during exposure of the vehicle carrying vehicle seat 20 and child
restraint 13 to an external impact. Performance of child restraint
13 is measured in part by testing to standard FMVSS 213. The
linkage system 161, 162, 163 of restorative frame tether 16 also
allows for spring-biased telescoping motion of seat-support frame
14 relative to vehicle seat 20 to allow for ease of vehicle lap
belt installation and then also for tensioning of the system. In
accordance with the present disclosure, the position of vehicle lap
belt 18 relative to seat-support frame 14 and vehicle seat 20 is
optimized without compromising the low center of gravity position
of the juvenile seat 12 relative to the seat-support frame 14 and
the seat bight 23.
A child restraint 13 includes a juvenile-seat base 10 and a
juvenile seat 12 as suggested in FIG. 1. Juvenile-seat base 10
includes a seat-support frame 14 and a restorative frame tether 16.
Seat-support frame 14 is adapted to support juvenile seat 12 and to
lie in an INSTALLED position on a seat bottom 21 and seat back 22
of a passenger seat 20 provided with a seat bight 23 formed at a
junction between the seat bottom 21 and seat back 22 as suggested
in FIGS. 1 and 2. Restorative frame tether 16 is mounted to
seat-support frame 14 for pivotable movement about a high-elevation
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A and arranged to extend downwardly
from the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A toward seat
bottom 21 of passenger seat 20 when seat-support frame 14 lies in
the INSTALLED position on passenger seat 20 as suggested in FIGS.
1, 2, 11, and 12.
Restorative frame tether 16 is configured to provide means for
mating with an underside of a passenger-seat lap belt 18 associated
with the passenger seat 20 to establish an actual belt path of the
passenger-seat lap belt 18 while the passenger-seat belt 18 remains
in a relatively lower low-elevation position in close proximity to
seat bight 23 and below and in spaced-apart relation to the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A as suggested in FIG.
5. Restorative frame tether 16 is also configured to provide means
for yieldably returning the seat-support frame 14 automatically to
the installed position on seat bottom 21 and seat back 22 of
passenger seat 20 owing to pivotable movement of restorative frame
tether 16 about the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A
after movement of seat-support frame 14 from the INSTALLED position
to a temporary DISPLACED position on passenger seat 20 during
exposure of passenger seat 20 to external forces as suggested in
FIGS. 11, 12, 2, and 6.
Restorative frame tether includes a belt mount 143 and first and
second frame-tether linkages 161, 162 as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2 and 4. Belt mount 163 is adapted to engage a portion of the
underside of the passenger-seat lap belt 18 as suggested in FIGS. 4
and 5. First frame-tether linkage 161 has a lower end pivotably
coupled to a first end of belt mount 163 and an opposite upper end
pivotably coupled to a first side of seat-support frame 14 at a
first elevated pivot point P.sub.1 that is located on the
high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A as suggested in FIG.
4. Second frame-tether linkage 162 has a lower end pivotably
coupled to an opposite second end of belt mount 163 and an opposite
upper end pivotably coupled to an opposite second side of
seat-support frame 14 at a second elevated pivot point P.sub.2 that
is located on the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A
and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first elevated
pivot point P.sub.1 to define a virtual belt path therebetween and
along the high-elevation horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A as also
suggested in FIG. 4.
Juvenile seat 12 is formed to include a child-receiving space 12S
as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 5. Juvenile seat 12 is coupled to the
seat-support frame 14 to lie in a stationary position as also
suggested diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 5. An outer portion of
the juvenile seat 12 extends into a seat-receiving cavity 12S
formed in seat support frame 14 to position the outer portion above
belt mount 163, between first and second frame-tether linkages 161,
162, and below first and second elevated pivot points P.sub.1,
P.sub.2 as suggested diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 5.
First-side frame-tether linkage 161 includes a first rod-support
plate 170 associated with the first side of the seat-support frame
14 and a first-plate pivot axle 171 arranged to mate with the first
side of the seat-support frame 14 and support the rod-support plate
170 for pivotable movement about the high-elevation horizontal
frame-pivot axis 14A as shown in FIG. 4. First-side frame-tether
linkage 161 also includes at least one spring-loaded extensible
frame-tether rod 172, 173 arranged to extend between and mate with
each of the first end of belt mount 163 and first rod-support plate
170 as shown in FIG. 4.
Second-side frame-tether linkage 162 includes a second rod-support
plate 180 associated with the second side of the seat-support frame
14 and a second-plate pivot axle 181 arranged to mate with the
second side of seat-support frame 14 and support rod-support plate
180 for pivotable movement about the high-elevation horizontal
frame-pivot axis 14A as shown in FIG. 4. Second-side frame-tether
linkage 162 also includes at least one spring-loaded extensible
frame-tether rod 182, 183 arranged to extend between and mate with
each of the second end of belt mount 163 and second rod-support
plate 180 as shown in FIG. 4.
Belt mount 163 includes a convex outwardly facing topside
belt-support surface 163T adapted to engage a portion of the
underside of the passenger-seat lap belt 18 normally to hold belt
mount 163 against passenger seat 20 to establish the installed
position of seat-support frame 14 on passenger seat 20 as suggested
in FIG. 5. Each of the spring-loaded extensible frame-tether rods
171, 172, 182, and 183 is lengthened temporarily to load a spring
included therein (as suggested in FIG. 4) during limited forward
movement of seat-support frame 14 on the seat bottom of passenger
seat 20 and away from the seat back 22 and the seat bight 23
following exposure of passenger seat 20 to an external impact and
then shortened following unloading of the spring included in each
of the spring-loaded extensible frame-support rods 171, 172, 181,
and 182 to apply a downward force F.sub.T to the seat-support frame
14 to cause the seat-support frame 14 to be pivoted about the
horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A and moved downwardly toward
passenger seat 20 from the temporary DISPLACED position to the
INSTALLED position.
First-side and second-side spring-biased extensible frame-tether
rods 171, 172, 181, and 182 cooperate to provide means for
yieldably drawing the seat-support frame 14 downwardly toward belt
mount 163 and also toward the seat bottom 21, seat back 22, and
seat bight 23 when the seat-support frame 14 is retained in the
INSTALLED position. First-side and second-side spring-biased
extensible frame-tether rods 171, 172, 181, and 182 also cooperate
to provide a space 12S therebetween for receiving a portion of
juvenile seat 12 and means for transferring a downward force
F.sub.D exerted on belt mount 163 by a passenger-seat lap belt 18
mated with an outwardly facing topside belt-support surface 163T of
the belt mount 163 to the seat-support frame 14 at the elevated
pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 so as to establish an elevated
VIRTUAL BELT PATH that lies above the ACTUAL BELT PATH and extends
in part, along the horizontal frame-pivot axis 14A between the
first and second pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2 so that more room is
provided between the first and second sides of the seat-support
frame 14 to allow for a lowest possible position of the juvenile
seat 12 in the seat-support frame 14 and the seat-support frame 14
can be retained in a low position on the passenger seat 20 to keep
the center of gravity of the child restraint 13 close to the seat
bottom 21 of the passenger seat 20.
* * * * *